The engagement party went good, and I woke up peacefully after that night, but I am designated to visit the high priest at the holy land.
To heal the curse, and up to this day, the punisher is still nowhere to be found. I am preparing all of my things, and the Duke is busy at the moment.
He's supposed to be the one who will accompany me at the holy land, but now. Sir William will guard me, and after my recovery, my real work will start.
"Are we near?" I asked Sir William who's sitting in front of me, and Lady Criseta is amazed at every trees that she saw.
"Wow, the holy land of Drivike empire is like a sacred place," she said and looking at the trees.
The highest priest really take care of this place. He know how to show his full support to his land.
Itmug is not really part of Drivike, but my father's greediness, forcing and owning the holy land.
Actually, my father already take over a lot of country, similar to his father, but that is also my goal.
Taking over the nation, by killing their economy and there is nothing they can do but to surrender it to me.
That is one of my political plans, once that I become an empress of Drivike. I have a lot of plans, and my views at politics is slowly changing, due to the effect of my literature study for the past months.
A lot of techniques, and Duke Theron also gave some books from other continents, and it helps me to improve what my own empire needed to be improve.
But for the mean time, I will heal from this fucking curse.
My siblings see me as a threat. They can't stop terrorizing me, even when I am on my way to holy land.
The carriage that I am supposed to ride is broken, it's a good thing that the coach man checked them before letting me use it without being checked.
They want me dead, my marriage with the Duke is near too, and once that I marry Duke Theron, all of them are my target.
But for now, I am waiting for mistakes, and I will compile all of them with all of my might. And strike once that all of my proofs are ready.
For the mean time, I will play the role of fiance of Duke Theron and act nicely to people, take care some of my affairs and build my relationship with my people.
I know that I will need the help and opinion of public people, outside the nobility.
Lately, the actions of my siblings are being hot topic of the nobility, and they are curious on how I handle those kind of stress from my incompetent siblings.
If I have a chance that time, I will definitely hit back Hannah, but nope.
I decide to calm my ass and let their chaos eat them up, and show their real colors.
"The gate of holy land." I looked at the window of carriage and watch the knights to bowed their heads when they recognized that it's carriage from royal family.
"What are you going to do after the highest priest heal you, princess Delaney?" I looked at Sir William and Lady Criseta is also looking at me.
"I actually have meeting with my designer, for my wedding gown, but the empress is asking for my presence, at their family dinner." I looked at my hands and play with it.
I don't want to sit and eat with them, it will make me feel irritated, because I know the outcome of that dinner, chaotic and I am expecting the worst.
"Don't go there, if you don't want to." Sir William said and I smile politely.
I wish I can say no to that dinner.
"If I can decline, I will definitely do it, but for the mean time. I will keep my eyes on them, and let them terrorize me, I have a lot of proofs to collect for the mean time." The carriage stopped at the big cathedral, the coach man open the door and Sir William helped me to hop out of the carriage.
The highest priest is waiting at the big door, with two men beside him.
I walked in slow pace and Sir William start talking.
"You gotta be careful at the highest priest, he is not that close to the holy family, due to what the emeperor Divino done, at taking over the holy land that is not part of the empire." I nod and holding the gown.
"I heard that he has a problem with your father last time, and you might become their target, so careful here, Lady Criseta and I will wait at the drawing room, while you're being treated." I nod and finally reached the big door.
I am surprised that the highest priest looks young, I bowed my head and he smile at me.
The other priest beside him bowed their heads to me, and look straight to my eye silk.
"It's good to see you, your highness. But I believe that the only person who is not affected by your curse is the highest priest." They explained and I gently nod my head.
"Oh, I see. I will keep that in my mind." I looked behind me, and they are looking at me, worried and I just waved my hand.
"You don't have to worry, I will be back soon, and that's sure, I am totally fine." I smile before turning back my head, and walk with the highest priest.
"I already heard from Duke Theron why you pass a visit at the holy land." I slowly removed my eye silk, and the highest priest looks surprised when he see my face.
He look away and I saw how his ear went red, avoiding my gaze
"Yes, I was poisoned and cursed at the same time, that's why I need to get some of your blessing, that the highest priest can only undo it." I said and I noticed that I am speaking softly since I left my mansion.
"Y-you can change your clothes there, you must change into all white attire, I will wait you at the altar, take your time there." I nod again and he walk fastly, and I just shrug my shoulder.
Now, I find the room, and changed my clothes. I didn't wear my eye silk, because it's just me and the highest priest now.
I was walking peacefully and looking at the interior of the cathedral, it's so breath taking, the designs and how it shows the dedication of the artist, just to finish this master piece.
The color, ambiance and how the art is being expressed, it's like an expressionism art.
"It's amazing, and mesmerizing." I said out of nowhere, and bumped with someone.
I almost lost my balance, but he catches me, and it's the highest priest, he looked worried and looking at my face now, with hia worried expression.
"Are you okay? Does your feet hurts?" He asked and I shook my head.
"You almost tripped, look at your surroundings," he said and I nod, trying to compose myself from the embarrassment. I just appreciate the whole art that I saw now.
I am very fond of paintings, I just discovered that when I saw some expensive painting that the Duke has to this mansion.
What an art that the artist express their feelings and what they are trying to say. That's why when I saw one, I can't help but to appreciate and get amazed by it.
"I'm sorry for inconvenient." I said and look at my way, walk peacefully and the highest priest is leading the way.
He opened the big door, and a water pond and a small part at the middle, it's like I will lay down there.
"Lay down at the middle, and then close your eyes. Don't open your eyes until I say so, understand?" I nod and let my white dress drip at the water pond.
I swim a little, before reaching the middle part of pond, and lay down at the middle.
He was standing there, at the place where I left him, and I closed my eyes.
The highest priest started to raised his hand at the moment I close my eyes. And I feel a sensation where I feel the heaviness is fading and the weight of my breath is getting better now.
I took a deep breath and he still continues the healing.
I didn't respond, but when the moment that I feel that all of the heaviness fades, all of the sudden, my chest clenched and I am catching my breath now.
"Princess Delaney?" I heard the voice of the highest priest and I am still holding my chest. Trying my best to calm down, but it seems that my chest is being taken away from me.
"Ack!" I cough hard and a warm hand touched my back, I opened my eyes and I hugged the highest priest instantly.
I am afraid, it's like I am being chocked and my chest is not helping me to breathe lately.
"You're heavily cursed, and it's resisting lately, before it fades away. Rest assured now that you're safe from any harm. Don't cry." He keep caressing my back, and it helps me to calm down a bit.
I am being heavily cursed, means that is meant to kill me, that curse. But I have some protection that the Great Sage gave to me, that's why some of the curse didn't harm me that much.
"They want you dead, so be careful more this time. But for the mean time, rest there and accept some of my blessings, it will nullify the curse or any harm that is caused by some people." He patted my head and guided me to lay down again.
I keep my eyes close, and a cold sensation to my body, a cold feeling to my soul, it's like healing my soul too.
"Don't worry, everything will be alright, soon. But for the mean time, be strong and don't let them hurt you and to ruin your good intentions to your empire, I saw how pure hearted you are, and how people love you without you, doing anything." I smile and he keeps talking.
"Just remember, your own family is the threat to your life, I saw some images that is unpleasant, and not good to see. Just be careful and become vigilant to your surroundings." I nod once again, and the cool sensation to my soul vanish.
I open my eyes, and he is still standing beside me, and surprised that he saw my eyes open.
His face went red now, and he hides his face to his hand and look away.
Why he's blushing?
"Are you okay? You're red, are you sick?" I placed my hand at his forehead, and he twitched.
He look away and walk away. Leaving me at the middle and didn't look back.
I get up and walk behind the highest priest, he's acting weird, I don't know how to approach him. Or maybe, because I am the daughter of his most disliked person.
My father, who invade the holy land and claim to become part of his empire.
I feel bad, but maybe I can make it up a little bit, if I apologize. Even that past mistake wasn't mine that I commit.
"Highest priest—"
"Javaid, I am Javaid. Stop calling me highest priest, it's making me feel uncomfortable, when the royalty called me that way." I stoped walking when he turn around and said that.
I nod and he just took a deep breath, and get some robe, gave it to me and toon another breath.
"Can we have a tea, after you changed your clothes. I think we need to talk about something else."
I show my big smile and he bowed his head.
"Thank you." He said before leaving me at the changing room.
I tried to move around, and my body feels light now, and my arms isn't that hard to move around, unlike before. Even the way I breath is normal this time.
Finally, I can work after I recover from the curse. I just hope that I have this kind of lightness before the engagement party, because that night, it seems that I am barely fighting for the event.
Enduring to end the event, and have a rest after that.
But now, I can manage to do some works that I used to do when I am not curse.
I am having a hard time to change my dress, and took some glances at my reflection, I am pretty and looks better this time.
My glow is also alright, I already have set of plans after this.
I will take a stroll at the holy land, and will find some interesting things that the capital didn't have.
I look around, and a priest was peeking!
He's watching while I am changing, but when his eyes met mine. He moves like a lifeless man. A pervert priest!
This man has a mistake on peeking while I am changing, I will make sure that he will regret it!
He started to act like a dog, and I tell that he should bark, and find something interesting that I will like, while acting like a dog.
My eye brows went up, when he stopped acting like a dog, but he looks terrified, when he looked at my direction now.
He's catching his breath and I show my big smirk.
"F-forgive me, your highness, I am begging you!" I just chuckle and didn't bother who ever it is behind me.
"I won't, and why I wound forgive someone who is peeing while I am changing," I said and an idea came into my mind.
"Give me your eyes, and I will forgive you. Can you do it?"